Elvis Grbac

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ELVIS GRBAC - PAGE 5

They didn't admit it, but it sure looked like the Minnesota Vikings were aiming for the Bears when they derailed the disinterested San Francisco 49ers 21-14 Monday night. They won the NFC Central Division title with a 10-6 record, beating out the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Bears, who all finished at 9-7. The real prize was the Vikings now get the Bears instead of the Lions to open the playoffs Sunday in the Metrodome. Had the Vikings lost to the 49ers, who had nothing but their health to play for, they would have opened against the Lions and the Bears would have gone to Green Bay. It may turn out best for both the Vikings and Bears.

By Don Pierson. Don Pierson covers the National Football League for the Tribune | November 1, 1998

Friends and teammates of Bears Hall of Fame player Bulldog Turner started organizing a fund to help pay funeral expenses as soon as they heard of his death Friday morning. They are more worried about Turner's finances than his family apparently is. Daughter Pat Turner, who lived with her father in a house trailer, told friends the family would make it. But teammate Ed Sprinkle and former Bears scout Jim Parmer called friends to solicit donations. Turner was eligible for $1,092 a month from his NFL pension, but the NFL Players Association Retired Players Organization didn't know when or how Turner had applied for his benefits.

What the San Francisco 49ers have done the last two weeks defies logic and defines a true champion. Coming off back-to-back losses to the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers in which they scored seven points apiece, they went on the road to Dallas and Miami with Elvis Grbac at quarterback and blew out the Cowboys and Dolphins. They didn't just squeeze out desperation victories; they dominated. They lost their best running back, William Floyd, for the season. Quarterback Steve Young's shoulder was aching too much for him to play.

Dave Szott and Chester McGlockton, Kansas City's best offensive lineman and highest-paid defender, could miss more than half the season with injuries, and quarterback Elvis Grbac is expected to miss two to three weeks with a shoulder injury. Szott, an All-Pro guard, said doctors fear he may have a torn tendon in his left arm from Sunday's win over Oakland. McGlockton underwent back surgery last weekend. - A week after ending a holdout in return for a $3 million tender offer, defensive end Joe Johnson signed a five-year, $22 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.

The Chargers intercepted Elvis Grbac four times, with two leading to touchdowns. Quarterback Jim Harbaugh left with a bruised right elbow, and the Chargers (2-1) didn't reach the 100-yard mark in passing until the third quarter. They finished with just 132 yards, though Erik Kramer threw two touchdown passes. The Chiefs (2-2) were called for 13 penalties--eight offensive holding--for 113 yards. "I know them (the officiating crew) pretty well, and once I saw the head guy (Ed Hochuli)

The Kansas City Chiefs signed quarterback Bubby Brister to a one-year deal. Todd Collins was all the Chiefs had after Warren Moon retired and Elvis Grbac opted for free agency. Brister spent 14 seasons with Minnesota, Denver, the New York Jets, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. - The NFL was willing to contribute at least $60 million to help build a stadium for the Raiders in 1995 at Hollywood Park. A former league official said the NFL anticipated waiving its share of club-seat sales at the proposed stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

Quarterback Randall Cunningham is ready to sign with the Baltimore Ravens. "It's Baltimore, but I just haven't signed yet," Cunningham told the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram on Monday. Cunningham is expected to back up Elvis Grbac, who signed a five-year, $26 million contract last month. - Defensive end Mike Mamula, a first-round draft choice in 1995, was released Monday by the Philadelphia Eagles. - The Cincinnati Bengals released defensive lineman John Copeland, a first-round choice in 1993.

Free-agent quarterback Elvis Grbac, Steve Young's backup with San Francisco who briefly was courted by the Bears, has agreed in principle to a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Grbac has not signed a contract, Chiefs spokesman Pete Moris said Friday. Moris also would not reveal details of the deal. Moris said it was unknown when the contract would be signed. "It has been a situation that has developed as the day went on," Moris said. Grbac, 26, is a four-year veteran who went to San Francisco as an eighth-round draft choice in 1993.

Miami quarterback Gino Torretta on Wednesday was named winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented each year to the nation's top college senior quarterback. Torretta, Miami's career passing total offense leader, has completed 228 of 402 passes for 3,060 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, while throwing seven interceptions. He has led the Hurricanes to a No. 1 ranking and 11-0 mark this year. Torretta was tops in a group of six candidates for the award presented by the Kentucky Chapter of The National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Inc. Other finalists were Elvis Grbac of Michigan, Shawn Jones of Georgia Tech, Shane Matthews of Florida, Rick Mirer of Notre Dame and Alex Van Pelt of Pittsburgh.